Conditions History

“The Prairie Spirit Trail State Park is a 52-mile biking and hiking rail-trail between Iola and Ottawa in Eastern Kansas.”

Overview

The Prairie Spirit Trail is free to use within the city limits of Iola, Garnett, and Ottawa, but the remainder of the trail requires purchase of a permit from the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism, payable at trailheads.

Description

The Prairie Spirit Trail in eastern Kansas is a 52-mile-long path through small towns, shaded woodland canopy, and scenic prairies alive with wildflowers (and wildlife!), and running beside streams, rivers, neatly-tended fields and family farms. The route runs from Iola in the south to Ottawa in the north, passing through the communities of Iola, Carlyle, Colony, Welda, Garnett, Richmond, Princeton, and Ottawa.

In Iola, the trail connects to the Southwind Rail Trail, the Missouri Pacific Recreational Trail, and the Lehigh Portland Trails. In Ottawa, the trail connects to the Flint Hills Nature Trail.

Each trailhead offers restrooms and water (seasonal), along with services in many of the small towns along the route.